A History of The London Clinic
The history of London’s most famous independent hospital
has just been written to coincide with the Clinic’s 75th
anniversary.
The London Clinic first opened its doors in
1932. It was established by a group of Harley Street doctors,
originally with the intention of providing inpatient facilities,
nursing care, pathology services, physiotherapy and invasive
procedures for their patients.
A History of the London Clinic has been written by Harvey
White, a surgeon with first hand experience of working in the
clinic, and an invaluable insight into the inner workings of this
exceptional institution. During the clinic’s prestigious 75-year
history, royal families, dignitaries, politicians, captains of
industry and celebrities from across the world have visited the
clinic, to be treated by legendary surgeons and doctors.
Harvey White’s book includes a selection of
celebrated patients who have received treatment at the Clinic:
John Paul Getty Jnr – whose dog was allowed up
the back stairs to visit him – perhaps as a condition of the
generous £2million the magnate donated to the Clinic to fund the
intensive therapy and hydrotherapy units.
Edward VIII, the Duke of
Windsor, had surgery for a detached retina in 1965, the
same year that Dr Radhakrishnan had a cataract operation at the
Clinic. In 1959 and 1964, the Duchess of Windsor, Wallis Simpson,
“spent time in the clinic for what was described as ‘facial
surgery’”.
Princess Margaret underwent
surgery on her face in 1980.
King Hussain of
Jordan was a patient more than once and while there “he
kept his gold-plated revolver close at hand but entrusted it to the
matron on the way to the operating theatre”.
While King Umberto of Italy
was a patient, a reporter from a Italian newspaper managed to gain
entry dressed as a nurse. “Happily his disguised camera was
spotted, and the film ultimately was destroyed.”
Ernest Bevin, the former
foreign secretary and leading Labour politician, had a scrambler
phone installed while a patient at the clinic.
Archbishop Makarios was at
the clinic for the signing of the Cyprus treaty and subsequently
became a patient. “A generous-minded nurse described him as ‘a
sweet, kindly, strikingly handsome gentleman…and not at all like
the Archbishop of Evil.’”
Charlie Chaplin was operated on for an impacted
wisdom tooth.
Elizabeth Taylor, suffering
from pneumonia, was a patient in 1961 while in London to make
Cleopatra.
Charles Lindberg and his wife
“chose the peace and privacy of the clinic” for the birth of their
second child soon after the kidnapping and death of their
first.
Robert Morley,
Richard Tauber, Joan Sutherland, Shirley
Bassey, Nijinsky, Nureyev,
Jacqueline du Pré and Dame Alicia
Markova were all patients.
[ENDS]
Notes:
RSM Press is the publishing arm of
The Royal Society of Medicine, an independent charity that
promotes the exchange of knowledge, information and ideas in
medical science and continued improvement in human health. RSM
Press publishes books and journals for medical and allied
healthcare professionals.
History of the London Clinic is
published by The Royal Society of Medicine Press. It is
available for purchase at http://www.rsmpress.co.uk/
Hardback RRP: £35, ISBN 978-1-85315-712-7, 304
pages
Paperback RRP: £17.50, ISBN 978-1-85315-679-3,
304 pages
It is also available from all good medical
bookshops, Amazon or distributors Marston Book Services on 01235
465500, or at direct.order@marston.co.uk.
Review copies are available on request.
Media contact:
CarmelTurner
Media Manager
The Royal Society of
Medicine
020 7290 2904
carmel.turner@rsm.ac.uk